Brewer touts Arizona to German businesses

Interest from European companies could result in economic development and job growth throughout Arizona, Republican Gov. Jan Brewer said today from Munich during a conference call about her trade mission.

The governor, who participated in a conference call with reporters about the on-going trade mission, described the trip as "marvelous," though she conceded she did not yet have firm commitments from any companies wishing to do business or expand in Arizona.

"It has been quite a whirlwind, but I really believe it's been really, really successful," she said.

"We've got a great story to talk about," she said of her pitch to foreign companies. "The message today is that Arizona is open for business."

Brewer and officials with the Arizona Commerce Authority and the Office of Tourism are on a two-week trip to Germany and France in an attempt to drum up interest in Arizona, pitching its business-friendly atmosphere, and fiscal-turnaround - a reference to the state's currently balanced budget.

She said companies "were absolutely impressed with what we have done, and they thought we were very, very competitive" in terms of tax reforms and incentives.

However, the governor said she has received no commitments from companies prepared set up shop or expand in Arizona. She could not reveal the names of firms who may be interested, citing confidentiality. But she did say German companies are interested in solar opportunities, and added that she made "really good contacts" with IT, solar and software development companies.

Earlier in the day, she met with about 30 representatives "who expressed keen interest in Arizona, and we were successful not only in regards of job creation and business ventures and investments, but certainly with tourism."

During her visit, Brewer also met with dignitaries and visited the historic Berlin Wall.

"You know what I did," she told reporters. "We were going to a meeting and we stopped at the Berlin Wall, which is just absolutely oh, it's so historic and I got to sign my name on the wall . I put, you know, the date and signed my name and put down the word 'Freedom!' That was amazing."

During their trip, the delegation attended a Global Business Dialogue conference in Berlin, organized in part with the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Glendale, the American Chamber of Commerce in Germany and the U.S. Embassy in Berlin.

Gov. Jan Brewer is pictured here participating in the Thunderbird Global Business Dialogue in Berlin. The governor is on a two-week European trade mission, touting Arizona to international firms and businesses.